Sebastian Soria (L) is congratulated by Mohamed Saleh and Rodrigo Tabata after he scored Al Rayyan’s second goal against Al Sailiya in the season-opening Qatar Stars League match yesterday. At bottom, Al Rayyan fans cheer their team. Pictures: Jayan Orma

By Sports Reporter/Doha


Two seasons ago the Qatar Stars League opened with a match between Al Rayyan and Al Sadd, the logic being that both were title contenders and an explosive start would augur well for the tournament.
Al Sadd won the match 1-0, but for Al Rayyan that loss on what was Friday the 13th proved to be a bad omen. By the time the season was at its half way stage, Al Rayyan were struggling to keep pace with Lekhwiya and Al Sadd, and as the tournament reached its fag end, they were engaged a grim battle to stave off relegation.
When the tournament finally closed on April 11, 2014, Al Rayyan had just seven wins from 26 matches and finished 13th among 14 teams to be relegated along with last placed Muaither – a damning result for a team who boast the largest fan following in Qatar.
The outcome was a bitter pill to swallow, but Rayyan bounced back in style last season by winning the second division title to gain promotion to the top flight.
This season, however, they are determined to make amends based on yesterday’s evidence when they thrashed Al Sailiya 4-0. With the redoubtable Uruguayan Jorge Fossati as their coach and striker Sebastian Soria joining their ranks after several seasons with teams such as Qatar Sports Club and Lekhwiya, Al Rayyan appear to have the right personnel to challenge perennial favourites Al Sadd and Lekhwiya.
Yesterday, Soria was busy as ever, missing at least two clear chances in the first five minutes of play before finding the target in the 33rd minute against with a header for Al Rayyan’s second goal. Al Rayyan didn’t take much time to stamp their authority on the match and after several missed chances had gone ahead through Paraguayan international Victor Caceres who scored in the 16th minute with a desperate touch from close despite being pressured by two defenders following a free-kick taken by captain Rodrigo Tabata.
Caceres, who is a new recruit for Al Rayyan, thus became the first man to score a QSL goal this season, and after Soria had helped his team consolidate with a brilliant header, Tabata put the issue beyond doubt in the 67th minute with a neat finish after beating the off side trap and shooting past goalkeeper Gregory Gomis.
The Brazilian born Tabata was still not finished as he put the cherry on the cake for the Lions in added time. With an elegant lob over Sailiya’s defence, Tabata’s pass was weighted perfectly and Mohamed Salah El Neel timed his run from deep  to calmly slot his side’s fourth goal.
Gomis had brought off several saves for his team, especially in the first half, but with precious little support from his defenders it was only a matter of time before he caved in to the pressure created by Al Rayyan.
Al Rayyan goalkeeper Omar Barry had a sedate opener and was seriously called to action only in the 88th minute when be brought off a desperate save to deny Al Sailiya.
Fossati was pleased with his team’s opening effort. “It’s always good to start off on a winning note,” said the Uruguayan, a former coach of the Qatar national team.
“The team gelled pretty well but there is further room for improvement. I am happy with Sebastian’s form and also the determination shown by the others.”
In the second match of the day, Umm Salal beat Al Khor 2-0.